All queries should be channelled through the call centre, Joburg Connect, which can be contacted 24 hours, seven days a week, on 0860 56 28 74 or 011 375 5555For each query, you will get a reference number. Make sure you keep this number so that you can follow up your query. Email: joburgconnect@joburg.org.za

Rhodes Park: This modestly sized park is truly great in creative stature. A marvellous mix of stepping stones and railway sleepers leads you through the park - along the lanes, over the waterfalls, through thickets and past beautiful ponds.Read more

Florida Lake: There are masses of waterfowl on the lake and the adjacent bird sanctuary ensures excellent bird watching.Read more

The Wilds: Meandering footpaths and walkways lead you through this beautiful area with its abundance of indigenous shrubs, plants and trees.Read more

Kloofendal Nature Reserve: Kloofendal is a cultural heritage and ecotourism facility. In the Roodepoort suburb of Kloofendal, the 150 hectare reserve was one of the first nature reserves in Joburg and offers urbanites a retreat from city life.Read more

Rietfontein Nature Reserve is about 24km north of the city in the small suburb of Paulshof. This 25 hectare indigenous green space with its quartzite koppie evokes in all visitors a feeling of being in the country.

Melville Koppies: Follow a footpath through nature leading to a hilltop with panoramic views, see a variety of plants, birds, small mammals and snakes, be exposed to historical sites - all while staying in Joburg.Read more

Klipriviersberg Nature Reserve, 11km south of Joburg city centre, is a 680 hectare nature reserve, known as "Stone River Mountain".Read more

Joubert Park is the city’s oldest park, granted by the Volksraad in 1887, and named after the town's first mining commissioner sent to investigate the claims of gold rush fortune seekers.Read more

Unlike Rome, a beautiful community park can be built in a day - and yet last a lifetime. Johannesburg City Parks’ Xtreme Park Makeover project turns dusty, derelict land into a green haven in just 24 hours.Find out more

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Latest news

Johannesburg City Parks and Zoo (JCPZ) is delighted to announce that the organisation maintained a clean audit for a second year in a row!

The Auditor General of South Africa (AGSA) gave the Entity the nod, declaring all its affairs in good order for the 2017-18 Financial Year.

JCPZ Managing Director Bryne Maduka expressed his excitement about this major achievement, acknowledging that accomplishing a clean audit requires a huge team effort. “I am proud to be leading an organisation that is working on all levels. This could not have been achieved if our top management and each and every employee were not applying their minds in fulfilling their daily responsibilities all year long.”

Chief Financial Officer, Lindokuhle Ngcongo, explained that: “the clean audit for Johannesburg City Parks and Zoo’s is an indication of sound financial management, strengthened governance and oversight, compliance with regulatory frameworks and effective monitoring of integrated performance management processes. This could not be achieved without the collective effort of The Shareholder (City of Johannesburg), the Board of Directors, top management and most importantly staff of JCPZ.

The AGSA looks at three levels of performance when auditing a government organisation: “These levels include the financial statements, performance information, such as targets and key performance indicators, and compliance to legislation.”

To obtain a clean audit, all three levels have to be in order, which JCPZ has achieved in two consecutive years in a row - being the 2016-17 and 2017-18 financial years. Previously, JCPZ obtained unqualified audits opinions.

“In order to obtain a clean audit, all employees are required to take pride in their work on a daily basis. The smallest oversight can lead to an audit query which can influence the AG’s finding. I therefore commend and thank all JCPZ employees for their hard work and dedication which made it possible for the organisation to stand proud,” MD Maduka concluded.

JCPZ is continuously striving to make Joburg a greener and more liveable City, and pays special attention to areas with special needs. One of these “special needs” areas is the Inner City, where the population is denser and the majority of residents live in flats, creating a dire need for green open spaces.

Three Inner City Parks have recently been modernised by JCPZ to address the growing need for outdoor relaxation and offering new facilities in line with the changing needs of the communities they serve.

The tree parks are linked and all in Ward 58, Jan Hofmeyer, Region F. The parks are Leeuwbekkie Park, Cosmo Circle Park and Katjiepiering Park. The Member of the Mayoral Committee for Community Development, Cllr Nonhlanhla Sifumba, Ward Councillor Alex Christians. JCPZ Board of Directors Chairperson, Mr Edgar Neluvhalani and MD Bryne Maduka were in attendance to officially hand over the parks to the community.

Johannesburg City Parks and Zoo and Eco Nars Projects (Pty) Ltd launched eco-friendly ablutions at Donald Mackay Park. The eco- friendly ablutions work off the City’s sewer and energy grid and support efforts to sustain the environment.

Johannesburg City Parks and Zoo has been experiencing a huge problem of vandalism of its ablutions through the city. This has been a huge concern in that the destruction results in wastage of funds and inhibits the City’s ability to make progress and move on to other communities that also have a greater need for recreational development.

This project assists to demonstrate just how much can be achieved when business and government join hands to work together towards making the lives of citizens better.

If you and your family are staying put this festive season, no need to worry. Johannesburg City Parks and Zoo (JCPZ) has you covered. With over 2 300 parks and approximately 10 000 hectares of green nature experiences, why not start planning for a quiet, buzz-free but jam-packed Joburg this festive season?

"Staycations" have become increasingly popular and offer the most cost-effective and time-saving alternative. The City of Joburg has abundant recreational facilities and is offering exciting activities throughout the festive season.

To encourage you and your family to enjoy a Joburg “staycation” this summer, we’ve put together a jam-packed holiday itinerary:

1. ANIMALS@PLAY: This year, the programme is themed “Christmas gifts for animals,” is an enrichment programme which aims to stimulate the animals' physical and psychological health. Animals are presented with a variety of fun activities where they search for their food in their respective enclosures, toys to play with or summer treats of frozen fruit lollies but to name a few. Date: 01 – 22 December 2018 Time: 10h00 and 13h00 at the Johannesburg Zoo.

2. MISTLETOE AND MAGIC: This upscale event kicks-off with a Christmas spirit welcome and animal demonstration. The event brings a one night of Christmas ambience with live entertainment, a Father Christmas, a kiddie’s zone, an open-air Christmas-themed movie screening, food stalls and carols by candlelight. Visitors are encouraged to bring along a picnic basket, candles, blankets and camping chairs. Date: 08 December 2018 from 17h00 to 21h00 at the Johannesburg Zoo. Entry fee is R90 for adults, R55 for children between 3-12 years as well as pensioners.

3. FAMILY DAY AT THE JOBURG ZOO: Enjoy a care-free day, a great picnic vibe and mini concert on the day. Bring along your family for a day of sunshine, live entertainment, DJ’s, kiddies entertainment area, face painting, free massages and loads of fun for everyone! Date: 16 December 2018 at 11h00 to 16h00. Entrance fee is R90 for adults and R55 for children between 3-12 years, as well as pensioners.

4. “CHRISTMAS COMES TO THE ZOO TROT”. As a festive gesture of giving, the Johannesburg City Parks and Zoo will be hosting a fun-filled morning for over 150 children aged between 3 – 12 years from various orphanages around the City. The Zoo Trot is a 5km or 10km walk or run. Entertainment varies from face-painting, jumping castles and distribution of Christmas presents. Regular zoo trotters are encouraged to donate toys, used sports equipment etc., to the children from the orphanages. Date: 09 December 2018; registration will be from 07h00 for 07h30, with the walk starting thereafter at the Joburg Zoo. The entrance fee is R60 for all other residents.

5. ANIMAL TALKS AND FEEDING SESSIONS. These activities are on-going and take place over weekends and public holidays. The festive bout of this programme is here! Date: 03 December 2018 – 14 December 2018. All activities start sharply at 09h00 – 14h00. Entrance fee is R100.

6. VARIOUS ACTIVITIES AT THE JOBURG ZOO. Children will enjoy an array of activities which include chimp feeding, snake craft activities, feeding of monkeys, Joburg Water’s Tappie Show, tiger enrichment, the Science Show – Sci-Bono’s ‘make your own solar system hat’, baboon feeding, a treasure hunt, spectacle bear and coati feeding/enrichment, colour sticker games and finally a ferry tour of the Zoo. Dates: 10 – 14 December 2018 from 09h00 – 14h00. Entrance fee is R100. Please bring along your own lunch and note that parents are not allowed to participate in the programmes.

7. KLOOFENDAL CAMP-OUT PROGRAMME: Be a happy camper at one of Joburg’s favourite camp-out sites. The Kloofendal Nature Reserve is a perfect camping spot right in the City that residents are able to enjoy – with beautiful natural surroundings, the calm of a far-off bush experience and starry nights. Book a spot for your family and friends this holiday season. This year’s programme includes a history talk, an afternoon hike, bonfire and edutainment games and a ‘planet walk’. Dates: 8th – 9th December 2018. Entrance fee is R100 for adults and R55 for children 3-12 years.

“We encourage families who will be staying in Joburg for the festive season, to visit our facilities for various family activities. The Joburg Zoo has something for the whole family. There’s no need to be bored in our City this festive season. I would also like to urge residents to take care of public spaces, and to heed the City’s by-laws so that everyone can enjoy themselves,” stated Councillor Nonhlanhla Sifumba, Member of the Mayoral Committee for Community Development in the City of Joburg.

Issued on behalf ofMMC Nonhlanhla Sifumba Member of the Mayoral Committee for Community Development City of Johannesburg

The Polyphagous Shot Hole Borer (Euwallacea sp) is an invasive beetle that attacks dozens of common natives and landscape trees. The beetle tunnels its way into host trees and spreads a disease called Fusarium Dieback (FD) which infects over 110 species. FD is caused by Fusarium Euwallacea, a fungus that disrupts the transportation of water and nutrients in the tree, therefore causing the tree to die from the tip of its leaves or roots backwards.

A green haven strewn with beautiful lawns, trees deeply rooted for over 110 years and ample space for easy breathing, relaxation, and an outdoor experience, is what the Zoo Lake has to offer you, your family and friends.

Zoo lake has been rated the number 1 picnic spot in Joburg in The Star Reader’s Choice Awards 2018.

The park is located just off Jan Smuts Avenue in Parkview and right across the road from Johannesburg Zoo. Park users have an array of activities to entertain themselves from state of the art play equipment, an option of paddling your boat across the man-made lake or doing what South Africans do best, braaing.

Popular for the welcoming of the season of Spring, the annual Jazz on the Lake and Carols by Candlelight, is a sure attraction for Joburgers. The park is home away from home for many visitors over weekends and public holidays.

For sports enthusiasts, the well-maintained basketball courts, Zoo Lake sports club, a mini-soccer area and the much adored Zoo Lake swimming pool are ideal for those hot summer days. Children can enjoy a stroll along the lake while feeding the ducks or enjoy the day on the jungle gyms and play equipment.

“Zoo Lake has become a meeting place of South African diversity and as a City, we’re proud and ecstatic that the public has voted our facility as their number one outdoor picnic spot. We urge users to continue to take care of their parks and outdoor spaces,” stated Councillor Nonhlanhla Sifumba, Member of the Mayoral Committee for Community Development, City of Joburg. “Park users are encouraged to use the designated braai areas for the disposal of hot ashes and avoid disposing ashes at the bases of trees as this destroy the trees”, urged Councillor Sifumba.

Issued on behalf ofMMC Nonhlanhla Sifumba Member of the Mayoral Committee for Community Development City of Johannesburg